Last week I covered how avoid neck pain.
Here are some tips on how to relieve neck pain:
• Keep good posture.
Poor posture can put strain on your muscles and ligaments.
Every inch the head shifts forward adds an extra 10 pounds to the muscles in the upper back and neck area.
• Lighten your load when walking. Keep your shoulders even while carrying weight.
Wearing a backpack can help maintain even weight.
• Drink 8 glasses of water daily. Set an alarm every 2 hours to drink a glass of water.
• Sleep on your back to let your spine relax.
If you sleep on your side, use a pillow that is 4-6 inches thick to support your neck.
• When experiencing neck pain, apply an ice pack. Apply heat afterwards.
• Take an NSAID - an anti-inflammatory for muscle pain which decreases inflammation.
• Try rolling your shoulders 10 times forward, 10 times backwards.
• You may also try “trigger point massage”’ which helps with small knots that form in the muscle or in the tissues around the muscle to relieve neck pain and stiffness.
Next week: Reading is good for your soul